Justice News

Heroin Traffickers Sentenced To Federal Prison

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Jonathan Rodriguez Melendez a/k/a ‘Bori”, 25, and C.J. Cortes Rodriguez, 28, both of Rochester, New York, have been sentenced by the Hon. Frank P. Geraci, United States District Court, for their roles in an armed heroin trafficking operation which operated in the northeast section of the city of Rochester.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas E. Gregory, who handled the case, stated that Jonathan Rodriguez Melendez received a sentence of 10 years in federal prison, as well as a $500 fine and 5 years of post-release supervision. C.J. Cortes Rodriguez received a sentence of 9 years and 4 years of post-release supervision. Earlier this year, both men pled guilty to conspiring to distribute quantities of heroin and possession of firearms in connection with the drug offenses. The investigation, which included court ordered wire taps and numerous undercover purchases of heroin from both men, revealed that they were obtaining quantities of heroin from a Philadelphia source of supply and distributing it here in Monroe County.

“Like many areas of our country, the Rochester community has experienced an alarming increase in overdoses associated with heroin and other opiates,” said U. S. Attorney Hochul. “Certainly the most effective way to combat this crisis would be for users to stop taking these illegal substances or even better, never start. Until that day comes, however, we in law enforcement will continue to use all of our resources to bring to justice those who would poison our community with these deadly substances.”

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, and the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET).